KLM apologises to Tanzania for barring crew stop-over after citing 'civil unrest'

In a statement from the KLM Country Manager in Tanzania, Alexander van de Wint, the airline said the use of the term civil unrest was inappropriate further noting that they had been prompted to make the decision by a "specific local threat."

"We are sorry we did not describe the reason why we had to decide not to let our crew stop over in Dar es Salaam for now correctly. The use of the phrase 'civil unrest' was wrong for which we sincerely apologize," said Van de Wint.

He further noted that the nature of the threat shall not be disclosed but will pull down the message on the airline's website. 

"We cannot give further details about this security issue. We took your feedback to heart and have adjusted the message on our website," he said.

He also promised that flights to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanizbar will soon be reopened.

"This requires operational adjustments in order to have our crew stop over outside of Dar es Salaam," he added.

Civil unrest involves fierce fighting between different groups of people or communities, so fierce that it could greatly disrupt airspace operations leading to its closure.

KLM had listed three of Tanzania’s major airports as a ‘local threat’ and had instructed travellers to consider cancelling their flights to the premises.

A similar alert had been placed for Kenya but was later pulled down.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said Kenya, which had since reached out to KLM’s country representative, would still demand an audience with the airline for what he said was “unfounded, false, insensitive and misleading information.”